The world of Simon Lee turned upside down when he was diagnosed with a serious medical condition. In the quest to come to terms with the situation, he tried to garner strength from recalling his childhood experience going through family upheaval living in the house at Lorong 5, Geylang red light district in Singapore in the 50s and 60s. In the end he was trudged into the harsh reality of life when he and his friend Hamid visited Batam Island in search of a young girl who became a victim of prostitution ring.

The book addresses the very nature of society at various levels — of human courage, destiny, conflicting relationships, murder, irreconcilable contradictions of existence by illuminating the imperfections of human nature and dark recesses of the soul, compelling the readers to face nefariousness of human character, abusive and destructive behavior which is potentially present in all men.